Je ne suis pas un très bon client de toutes ces activités qui font que l'on peut voyager en Namibie en self-drive certes mais un peu "hors sol", mais je vais essayer de te répondre...
Tous les hébergements proposent des activités, même ceux qui ne figurent pas sur les sites des agences. Pas forcément game drive et sundowner... Oppi Koppi à Kamanjab propose des balades en charrette à ânes typique Damara pour aller découvrir les environs (pas fait). Arnhem te fait visiter une grotte avec des chauves-souris. Büllsport peut te prêter des VTT pour aller faire un tour. Presque partout tu peux te balader à pied, etc.
À Etosha, tu fais tes game drive toute seule.
Tu peux aller voir les guépards au CCF sans y dormir (d'ailleurs ils commencent tout juste à proposer un hébergement).
Autour de Swakopmund / Walvis Bay, quelque soit l'endroit ou tu dors, tu feras tes excursions avec une agence locale.
Au Brandberg ou autour de Twyfelfontein, certaines visites se font guidées (pas toutes !), mais tu trouveras les guides sur place.
À toi de profiter de la liberté que va te donner ta façon de voyager sans réservation pour découvrir une Namibie un peu hors des sentiers battus. Mais si l'idée est de faire un voyage "standard" (je ne critique absolument pas, n'importe quel voyage en Namibie est extraordinaire), il me semble plus simple de tout réserver.
En certains endroits, tu ne peux rien ou presque rien faire par toi-même
À quels endroits penses-tu, ça m'intrigue ?
Il y a énormément de choses à faire, à voir, à découvrir par soi-même en Namibie !
L'impression qu'en certains endroits, il était nécessaire de passer par des excursions toutes organisées pour découvrir le coin m'est venue de ce que j'ai lu jusqu'à présent. J'ai eu l'impression - fausse après tes infos - que si tu ne prenais pas une excursion organisée dans les points d'arrêts les plus fréquemment cités (et qui se retrouveraient probablement dans nos points d'arrêt si...), tu ne pouvais découvrir grand chose par toi-même... C'est probablement lié aux programmes dont je dispose (Forums et agences).
Je reconnais n'avoir pas suffisamment approfondi la question mais j'ai voulu m'enlever ce doute en utilisant un moyen rapide d'en savoir plus. Donc merci 😉
Quand nous aurons décidé, si c'est Namibie, je deviendrais plus sérieuse en analyse et en prépa...
En analysant des parcours (passés ou à venir), je constate que la plupart des personnes (pour ne pas dire toutes) choisissant d'aller voir les chutes Victoria depuis la Namibie rendent leur voiture à Kasane et paient des frais de drop off puis repartent de Kasane.
Quelqu'un a-t-il un itinéraire en boucle depuis Windhoeck allant jusqu'aux chutes Victoria qui puisse nous servir de base de réflexion finale avant décision ?
Au plus court : 1500 km de goudron facile et sans intérêt qui peuvent se faire en 2 jours avec une nuit à mi-chemin à Maun ou en trois avec deux nuits à Gweta et Ghanzi par exemple.
Tu peux également rejoindre Kasane via le nord de la Namibie et la bande de Caprivi.
Comme il était question de boucle, j'ai supposé que l'arrivée à Kasane se faisait par là...
Pas sûre du tout que les chutes Victoria valent ce détour et ce sur coût.
Les chutes seules non, mais avec Chobe, les parcs du Caprivi et un bout de Botswana en plus... À condition d'avoir le temps. 5 semaines mini pour une telle boucle sans trop courir.
A ce stade des idées potentiellement préparatoires, comme l'envie d'aller voir les chutes Victoria émerge, du coup le passage par Caprivi s'en était venu au programme.
Je farfouille un peu partout et détermine ce qui pourrait nous convenir (goûts, temps, moyens financiers...)... et nous permettre de trouver un mixage entre tous les possibles. Nous éliminerions les animaux marins (dauphins...), les visites de village locaux en version activité touristique et les répétitions de même type d'activité.
Maintenant, notre programme devra rentrer dans une durée de 3 semaines environ sur place (l'avion est envisagé depuis Francfort)... Donc, sera soumis à fort tri éliminatoire...
Pour l'instant, il y a une forte envie se mêlant à une forte interrogation quant au style de voyage possible...
Je croyais avoir précisé pour Caprivi, oui la boucle l'envisagerait 🤪
Nous n'aurons pas 5 semaines mais dans l'ordre de 3. Après, l'axage du voyage et donc l'élimination de bien des points seront fonction de ce temps.
Pour l'instant, je cherche quels pourraient être les sites, lieux, activités nous correspondant le mieux... et du coup pouvant servir de trame à un itinéraire...
Pour 3 semaines c' est sûr, je me limiterais à la seule Namibie ... Y' a vraiment de quoi merveilleusement les remplir !
Tout ce qui est évoqué après (Botswana, Victoria Falls ...), pourra faire l' objet d' un deuxième voyage ; parce que c' est sûr, tu auras envie d' y retourner !
Donc soit une boucle en Namibie sans la bande de Caprivi, soit une boucle WDH-WDH passant par le Botswana mais sans le Sud Namibien, ni le trop au nord ( genre WDH- Damaraland-Etosha-Bande de Caprivi-Chobe+chutes -retour WDH via Gweta et Ghanzi)
Même en raisonnant "unique fois", je me concentrerais sur la seule Namibie .
C' est vraiment le pays offrant la plus grande diversité de paysages, et c' est énormément de kilomètres à parcourir pour rejoindre les seules chutes Victoria . Et puis, celles d' Epupa ont un charme fou ... Nous les avons vraiment adorées !
Je suis personnellement convaincu que sur 3 petites semaines, cette incursion sur le fleuve Zambèze serait préjudiciable, car au détriment du meilleur de ce que la Namibie aurait à t' offrir .
Ce qui voudrait dire que ce secteur ne pourrait s'envisager en solo
Tu peux envisager le Botswana en solo.
Mais, si tu ne sais pas conduire (et assurer une maintenance minimale) un 4x4 dans des conditions 4x4 et que tu ne veux pas camper dans la nature en autosuffisance, il te faudra t'en remettre à des prestataires pour les excursions à chaque étape (Chobe, pans, okavango, moremi)
C'est moins souple et c'est une façon différente de découvrir la faune. A toi de voir si cela te convient.
Si tu préfères le style auto tours sans excursions organisées et sans trop de tracas (pistes correctes, logement en dur), la Namibie ou l'Afrique du Sud sont plus adaptés. 😉
Dans le cadre d'un voyage dernière minute, c'est l'Afrique du Sud le plus simple.
Un auto tour sans trop d'excursions organisées, de tracas de pistes complexes (surtout en véhicule solo) et avec logements en dur confortables mais sans luxe et surtout en maximum d'impros liées au vécu, c'est en effet notre souhait...
Ce qui m'effraie aussi un peu c'est le côté groupes de touristes en train de faire la même chose, même si j'ai conscience qu'en certains lieux il sera impossible de faire autrement que de prendre une activité organisée.
C'est la boucle qui est la moins souple point de vue self drive pour ceux qui ne peuvent se débrouiller seuls en 4x4. (Chobe-Pans)
Tout à fait d'accord.
C'est celle qui se prêtera le moins au style de voyage. Et aussi celle la moins spectaculaire au premier abord. Ce genre de boucle avec un 4x2 entièrement sur le goudron pas forcément passionnant en a parfois dégoûté quelques uns. La magie du Botswana est ailleurs que sur ses routes goudronnées, alors que celle de la Namibie est partout ou presque.
3 semaines : passez les en Namibie !
3 semaines une autre fois : passez-les au Botswana !
Ce sont deux pays et deux voyages réellement différents.
Ce qui m'effraie aussi un peu c'est le côté groupes de touristes en train de faire la même chose, même si j'ai conscience qu'en certains lieux il sera impossible de faire autrement que de prendre une activité organisée.
😉
Le côté groupes de touristes est à relativiser quand même ! C'est beaucoup beaucoup moins que ce que tu peux trouver en métropole par exemple
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
Mon impression doit être faussée par les aspects "très haute saison" et les programmes ou carnets parcourus (passés ou à venir) Pierre a déjà nuancé ce point mais ce que je lis me laisse cette idée de centres clefs où bcp de gens vont et y font des activités en groupe. Bien sûr, il y a des coins isolés où les plus aventureux vont. Mais ce n'est pas ce que nous sommes (une quasi non pratique de la conduite sur pistes non entretenues) et en plus pas de camping pour nous...
Comme il nous est impossible d'envisager une autre période que juillet/août, il nous est impossible d'y aller en basse saison. Donc ???
clefs où bcp de gens vont et y font des activités en groupe.
C'est le beaucoup qui est à nuancer .... Tu auras un peu de monde certainement à Chobé par exemple, mais pour avoir fait le parc Kruger à la même époque j'avais aussi peur du trop de monde et bien ..... il y avait du monde mais trop ? Non pas du tout
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
Mais beaucoup de touristes semblent venir en juillet/août... 🤪
Non sur un autre blog j'ai vu que 65% des touristes venait d'Angola et d'AFS et ils ne sont pas en vacances a cette époque de l'année du moins pour les sud af
"Je suis africain, non pas parce que je suis né en Afrique, mais parce que l'Afrique est née en moi." Kwame Nkrumah.
"J'ai appris que le courage n'est pas l'absence de peur, mais la capacité de la vaincre." Nelson Mandela
Comme vous l'a suggéré Pierre il vaudrait mieux choisir.
3 semaines en Namibie vous aurez de quoi vous occuper.
Attention nous sommes déjà mi décembre, si vous voulez venir en juillet août 2015 il ne va pas falloir trainer sur certaines réservations, surtout si vous n'avez pas d'option camping.
Même si des TO vous disent "pas ni probl'm" ça va très vite être complet dans les endroits incontournables.
Maintenant ce serait bien de présenter une première idée de parcours pour en discuter.
Si non dans 2 mois elle sera éliminée d'office.
Serait-ce une spécialité Martiniquaise les voyages tentaculaires dont la durée de gestation est supérieure à celle de l'éléphant ??? Pas vrai Diamina ? ( merci de n'y voir qu'une gentille taquinerie)
Une partie de nos limites organisationnelles vient du fait qu'il est totalement impossible de savoir maintenant quelles seront nos dates... et donc de faire des résas... Au plus tôt, nous serons fixés en février...
Notre deuxième "limite" vient de notre manière de voyager. Nous sommes très peu fans du voyage décidé à l'avance. Nous apprécions de décider sur place en fonction du vécu.
Par contre, j'adooore préparer et donc envisager, supputer, potentialiser... du coup mes prépas durent X mois en général. Cette hyper prépa nous permet (d'habitude) de décider sur place en fonction des news collectées in vivo et des envies. Il est tout de même rare que cela atteigne la durée de gestation d'un éléphanteau 😉
Notre voyage ne sera pas tentaculaire, il ne devrait durer que 3 semaines environ 😉
Mais vivant dans une toute petite île, nous apprécions de parcourir de longues distances en voyage...
Je n'avais pas encore regardé en détail les avions pensant éventuellement partir de Francfort, or l'info donnée par Pimseb d'un départ possible du Luxembourg (Luxair puis Condor) serait pour nous un vrai faciliteur. 😉
Du coup, l'option Namibie monte d'un sérieux cran dans les possibles de l'été 2015. Il faut préciser qu'une de nos étapes sera obligatoirement Thionville, à qqs kilomètres du Luxembourg...
le mois de juillet n est pas le mois le plus fréquenté car c est l hiver ; nous sommes allés 3 fois en Namibie toujours en camping et nous n avons pas vraiment souffert du froid sauf une fois peut etre à Naufkluft mais c est un peu en altitude ; sinon le camping ( 4x4 avec tentes on top ) est à mon avis le moyen d etre autonome et de pouvoir aller et s arreter en pleine nature sans soucis d hébergement ; il faut simplement faire ses provisions à Windhoek avant de partir ...il nous est arrivé de nous arrêter en lodge sans réservation pour le confort d'une douche et d'une bonne table : le camping est une bonne solution très pratiquée et sans grand risque avec des avantages de liberté sans équivalent ! n hésitez pas à me contacter pour plus de renseignements , cordialement, Dominique
Lors de notre tour du monde en 2013/2014, nous avons fait un séjour de de presque 3 semaines en Namibie dont 15 jours en 4*4.
On a trouvé le 4*4 arrivée à Windhoeck
On avais essayé de trouver des 4*4 et des idées de parcours un peu moins d'un mois avant mais ce n'était pas facile.
Par contre, je dirai qu'avec le recul, il y a 4 choses à prévoir absolument :
- le 4*4 avec tente sur le toit (si c'est ce que vous cherchez, et c'est d'ailleur le seul moyen qui vous permettra d'être serein pour les nuité, on n'a jamais été "à la rue" même dans Etosha !). Le prendre à l'avance pour avoir un meilleur rapport/qualité/prix, c'est tout.
- la première nuit à Windhoeck
- dernière nuit à Windhoeck (enfin bon, vos nuités à Windhoeck)
- du temps !!!!! Ne prévoyez pas un gros programme, faites en peu mais faite le bien. Il faut prendre le temps pour capter la magie du pays. Faire attention aux distance qui sont grandes (et parfois monotones)
voilà le lien d'un compte rendu que j'avais fait :
bon voyage, vous allez vous régaler ! La partie "classique" d'un voyage en Namibie est vraiment sans difficulté
P.S : j'allais oublié, évite de ramasser du bois mort en bord de piste pour ton barbuc, celà peut être dangereux pour la santé. On n'a pas eu de problème mais il y a beaucoup d'Euphorbes dangereuses pour la santé (li la fin du lien ci dessus, on avait appris tout ça un peu tard)
Merci pour votre apport et votre partage d'expérience. 😉
Pour diverses raisons de santé, le camping ne nous est pas permis. Du coup, nous perdons ce maximum de liberté et cherchons une optimisation entre hébergement en dur et liberté...
Bonjour Madikéra
Je viens répondre un peu tardivement et je n'ai pas lu toutes les interventions (pas trop le temps en ce moment 😉)
Pas besoin de te dire que la Namibie est vraiment un pays fabuleux, tu le sais déjà...
Juste un mot pour te dire que nous, nous avions réservé notre billet d'avion en Oct-Nov pour un départ début Juillet mais pour l'hébergement, nous ne l'avons fait qu'en Janvier-Février car on hésitait beaucoup.
Je sais que tu ne souhaites pas réserver à l'avance, mais c'est pas mal, car, comme déjà dit, les distances d'un hébergement à l'autre sont souvent grandes.
Nous avons établi notre projet avec Tourmaline et nous en avons été vraiment très contents! Sur les 3 semaines nous n'avons dormi que 5 nuits en "dur" et le reste en camping, mais c'était vraiment top. Et au final, on s'est aperçu que les prix négociés par Tourmaline étaient pratiquement toujours inférieurs à ceux qu'on aurait pu avoir par nous-même. De toute façon, Tourmaline a vraiment suivi notre demande, et leurs conseils étaient aussi très bien (on avait hésité à aller au-dessus d'Opuwo, mais eux comme nous avons réalisé que c'était beaucoup trop de route -pour notre projet- et Tourmaline nous l'a bien signalé)
Pour ce qui est du temps nous n'avons eu froid qu'une seule fois, dans le Naukluft (montagneux) car il y avait eu une grosse chute de température. Mais quelques jours plus tard, nous étions en T-shirt 😛 Et de toute façon, les températures varient d'une année à l'autre 😉
Voilà, j'espère que cela t'aura un peu aider
Bon préparation
Patricia
Attention, une fois qu'on a goûté à la Namibie, on n'a qu'une idée en tête : y retourner 😛
Mais c'est qu'il connait des expressions créoles, le Mossieu!!! Du coup, je me permet un "tchimbé raid pa molli" comme suite de vœux pour 2015.
Serait-ce une spécialité Martiniquaise les voyages tentaculaires dont la durée de gestation est supérieure à celle de l'éléphant ??? Pas vrai Diamina ? ( merci de n'y voir qu'une gentille taquinerie)
Morte de rire!!! Durée de gestation d'une éléphante: 20 à 22 mois. Pour Madikéra, c'est largement en dessous!
Je pense que les voyages tentaculaires dont la durée de gestation est supérieure à celle de l'éléphant, c'est une spécialité diaminesque!!!
Non, non, tu verras, Madikéra est bien plus raisonnable et plus sage que moi, ça ira!! Vos nerfs seront préservés cette fois!!!!
A Madikéra,
En tout cas, Madi, je vois que tu continues ta prépa qui n'en est pas encore une, mais qui j'espère le deviendra vraiment. C'est le vœux que je fais pour toi pour cette nouvelle année!!! Bonne année à toi et à Mr Madikéra!
Votre voyage serait bcp plus long et ouvert que le nôtre, donc avec prépa nettement plus fine et détaillée... 😉
De notre côté, la cogitation continue mais produit surtout de l'agitation mentale ambiguë 🤪
La Namibie nous attire fortement mais pour l'instant, nous nous interrogeons bcp sur deux aspects pouvant se révéler freins conduisant à l'abandon:
- Le budget, avec l'avion au départ d'Europe, en hébergement en dur (camping ou camping car impossibles) et repas au resto le soir, avec diverses activités payantes, entrées de parcs... il faut compter une base de 10 000 euros pour 3 semaines (sans luxe et gros 4*4). Comme à ce budget, il faut ajouter la venue de Martinique plus le séjour dans les familles, cela tournerait aux alentours de 13/14 000 euros pour 5/6 semaines. Un peu bcp pour nous 😕
- L'organisation du voyage, au final soit nous achetons un auto-tour plus ou moins individualisé, soit nous partons à l'aventure mais avec la cointrainte de devoir tous les soirs nous inquiéter du lendemain et passer plus ou moins de temps à trouver une soluce et donc à adapter le voyage à cette soluce hébergement et non à nos goûts. J'ignore si cette quête sera facile question téléphone et contacts...
Après en adaptation, j'ai eu un très bon contact avec Carole de Damarana
http://www.damarana.com/
Pour l'instant le curseur de la balance est bloqué au milieu...
Quelqu'un m'a dit que certains pays demandaient un abandon de sa forme préférentielle de voyage... Pour l'instant, nous n'y arrivons pas... Mais si ce n'est là, nous irons bien qqpart...
Biz
Tu peux trouver des locations de SUV pour 3 semaines à environ 850 euros, chez Hertz, ou AVIS, ou first car rental, ou budget.
Demande des devis comparatifs auprès de tourmaline safaris tours. Ils proposent souvent des hébergements moins haut de gamme. Et surtout demande leur d'exclure la location de voiture de leur devis. Ça te bouffe une grande partie du budget, ces 4x4 loués chez des loueurs spécialisés.
Tu peux leur demander un auto tour organisé en laissant des nuités libres, c'est ce que j'ai fait, ce qui te laisse de la liberté, mais au moins tu assures les endroits importants, comme etosha si tu y vas, ou le parc chobe si tu y vas.
Quelqu'un m'a dit que certains pays demandaient un abandon de sa forme préférentielle de voyage... Pour l'instant, nous n'y arrivons pas...
J'ai regardé les tarifs en divers sites et demandé des programmes à divers TO, mais j'aboutis (avec 2 000 euros de billets d'avion pour 2) à un budget aux alentours de 8 000 euros sur place - en hébergement simple avec une ou deux nuitées plus confortables - en fourchette large. Je préfère toujours envisager la fourchette large pour vérifier que cela nous est faisable au cas où cela devienne la réelle... Ce budget comprend tout voiture, hébergement, visites, activités diverses et variées...
J'ai préféré les réponses de Damarana à celles d'autres mais Tourmaline est en seconde position...
Je te rejoins sur le mix possible donnant un peu plus de souplesse et de liberté...
Choisir ne nous pose pas de difficulté quand c'est dans l'instant et sur le terrain. C'est 6 mois avant que nous avons du mal 🤪
Le budget, avec l'avion au départ d'Europe, en hébergement en dur (camping ou camping car impossibles) et repas au resto le soir, avec diverses activités payantes, entrées de parcs... il faut compter une base de 10 000 euros pour 3 semaines (sans luxe et gros 4*4)
Ça me parait un peu beaucoup. 🤪
Suv 3 semaines : environ 1000 euros
Logement en dur (moyenne de 100 euros par nuit) : environ 2100 euros
Avion (1200 par personne en été pour WDH ?) : 2400 euros
Il resterait 4500 euros soit 215 euros par jour pour se nourrir, les entrées , quelques excursions et l'essence. Si tu ne comptes pas multiplier les survols en ballon, avion et autres extras bien onéreux, tu ne dépenseras jamais cette somme par jour !
Je t'assure que si tu demande aux TO de retirer la location de voiture, déjà cela fera une sacrée grande différence.
Et ce que te dit Attila, je l'ai expérimenté. Les TO te fourguent des 4x4 spécialisés hors de prix qu'ils inclus dans leurs devis.
Demande des devis sans véhicule et tu verras la différence.
Explore des sites tels que namibian reservation, et cardbox tu auras une idée des prix.
Je prépare mon retour en Namibie en juillet prochain pour approfondir le nord du pays. De Windhoek en 4x4 auto-suffisant pour aller vers Sesfontein, Puros,…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Namibie · 8 replies
Après moultes recherches et quelques questions/réponses échangées sur le forum nous avons finalisé notre futur trip en Namibie. Au moment de la réservation des…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Namibie · 5 replies
Nous partons bientôt en Namibie et n'avons des réservations possibles que sur quelques campings, mais on n'arrive pas à boucler notre voyage. Est-il possible…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Namibie · 24 replies
Je pars 3 semaines en septembre en Namibie avec 5 autres personnes et je me demande si il est vraiment nécessaire de réserver les campings ou lodges à l'avance…
Afrique de l'Est et Australe › Namibie · 5 replies
Nous partons cet été (mois de juillet)pour 25 jour en Namibie avec un 4X4 avec tente sur le toit. Est-ce que certains d'entre vous ont tenté l'expérience sans…
Hello everyone!
It's been a year since I've been longing for South Africa. Our first trip in August 2025 amazed us, and—rarely—it was a unanimous hit with our little family! We were touched to the core, and from the moment we got home, we couldn’t stop talking about going back. 😄
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave me advice on the itinerary for that first trip (Johannesburg loop: Blyde, Kruger, Eswatini, St. Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg)! Thanks to you, our trip went like a dream!
Since then, I haven’t stopped reading articles and discussions on VoyageForum to keep my head in South Africa a little longer!
So, we finally caved and just booked our tickets for January 2027 (from the 3rd to the 26th), with a plan to do a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg in about 3 weeks.
I’ve got a rough itinerary that seems great based on what I’ve read on various forums, but there are still some uncertain points, and that’s where I could use your advice.
3/01: Arrival in Johannesburg at 11:45 PM
4/01: Flight to Cape Town, pick up rental car. Afternoon sightseeing
5,6,7/01: Cape Town to visit the big classics in the area (any tips for finding accommodation: which neighborhood, a specific place?)
8/01: Overnight stop before Oudtshoorn—but where??? (Is it essential, or is the CT-Oudtshoorn drive manageable? If so, I’d gain a day in Oudtshoorn. Google Maps shows over 5 hours of driving...)
9,10/01: Oudtshoorn (or would 3 nights be better to really enjoy the area?)
11,12/01: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay (to have time for hiking—if you’ve got hiking tips, I’m all ears!)
13,14/01: Tsitsikamma (still to have time for hiking—who knows the must-do hikes in the area? But maybe 4 nights in the Knysna-Tsitsikamma area is too much—I’m not sure)
16,17/01: Addo Elephant (I’m torn between 3 nights at Addo or 3 nights at Mountain Zebra. Based on travel journals, especially Michel’s on MZ, I’ve scheduled 3 nights at MZ 😄...)
18,19,20/01: Mountain Zebra NP
21/01: Camdeboo NP (because it looks so beautiful!)
22/01: Overnight stop (where?) before wrapping up the trip with either 2 or 3 nights at Golden Gate NP or the Lesotho option, which appeals to me, but I don’t know if it’s doable in 3 days to be back in Johannesburg by the afternoon of the 26th.
That’s my trip idea for now...
I’m eagerly waiting for your advice, ideas, and comments...
Can’t wait to be back there again!
I’m planning a potential trip to Namibia for a classic circuit in April 2027.
I’m surprised by how expensive the accommodations inside the parks are—really steep! Is it possible to stay outside the parks but still close enough to enjoy the game drives?
Do you have any recommendations for more reasonably priced lodging? I’m okay with spending 200 to 250 € per night.
No camping—the friend I’m traveling with absolutely refuses 😉, but maybe upgraded tents would work.
Hi everyone,
We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead.
I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different.
I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari?
For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous…
We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious?
Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering?
Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!
Hi, I'm looking for information on the road conditions in Moremi. We're leaving in 15 days, and from what I've heard, the roads are pretty tough to drive on. Any advice?
Thanks
Dream of standing on the roof of Africa at 5,895 m?
I’m looking for 4 people to complete our group for the Kilimanjaro ascent in Tanzania.
📅 September 17–28, 2026
👥 Small group
🥾 Suitable for experienced hikers
🏔️ Goal: Uhuru Peak – 5,895 m
🇹🇿 Local team specialized in Kilimanjaro
🎒 Porters during the ascent
🍽️ Meals and trek organization included
🧗♂️ Trip led by a French state-certified Mountain Leader
September is a great time to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent.
🔥 Only 4 spots left. The departure is confirmed.
No need to be a mountaineer—just be in good shape, love hiking, and want to experience an incredible adventure.
👋 If you’re alone, no problem: you’ll join our small group directly.
📧 Send me a message for the full program, price, and all the details.
Don’t hesitate to share this post with your hiking friends! 😊
Mafate Randos
Just returned from a three-week family trip to Kenya (with three kids aged 10, 12, and 15), and I wanted to share my experience. Forums were super helpful in planning this trip, especially if you want to get a bit off the beaten path.
First off, Kenya is an amazing destination with incredibly friendly and welcoming locals. It was easy to travel around because you can always find someone to give you directions or help you out.
For practical tips—though you’ve probably read this elsewhere—get a Safaricom SIM card when you arrive at the airport so you can pay via M-Pesa (you can top it up with a credit card using the Wise app) and chat with people on WhatsApp. It’ll make your life *so* much easier (booking trains, buses, park entries, etc.) and save you from carrying too much cash or hunting for ATMs.
Also, we went during the first three weeks of July, which wasn’t peak tourist season.
One thing to note: even if you’re using public transport and budget accommodations, Kenya can still be pricey because tourist attractions add up fast—often more expensive than in France. But honestly, it’s usually worth it!
We started our trip with a 5-day homestay. We were welcomed by a really lovely family in Loitokitok with a view of Kilimanjaro right from their garden entrance (just a heads-up: in July, it’s often shrouded in mist!). To find them, search for Greenfield Homestay in Loitokitok. It was a fantastic experience, especially with kids! On top of transfers, they organized several outings with locals: a hike to the Tanzanian border, a motorcycle ride on the foothills of Kilimanjaro, and a day safari in Amboseli. You can book with them eyes closed! For the safari, Anthony (who’s English-speaking) took us around—he’s from the area and knows the park like the back of his hand. Highly recommend him!
Anthony then drove us to Isiolo, a town in the north that’s just starting to open up to tourism. We wanted to see the Monday livestock market, where different ethnic groups gather to buy and sell goats, sheep, and cows (according to Lonely Planet). We were a bit disappointed and wouldn’t recommend it. We also visited Ngare Ndare Forest, which has a stunning waterfall, an interesting walk with an armed ranger (elephants are common), and a suspension bridge for admiring the canopy. Just make sure to let them know you’re coming at least three days in advance to guarantee a ranger will be available. We also did a second safari day in Samburu—it’s a great complement to Amboseli and totally worth it!
Next, we headed to Naivasha (still with Anthony). We found a place on Airbnb (Jasmine House) at Fischerman’s Camp, a campsite we really loved! You’ll spot hippos, monkeys, and beautiful birds there. We organized several activities: a boat ride on the lake to see birds, zebras, and giraffes; a bike safari in Hell’s Gate Park (the campsite is right by the entrance and rents bikes); and a hike to Crater Lake (departing by boat from the campsite), where you walk among zebras, giraffes, and different gazelles. Naivasha is way more touristy than Loitokitok or Isiolo, but there’s no shortage of things to do.
Finally, we spent our last week in Watamu on the coast. To get there, we took an overnight ENA Coach bus from Naivasha to Mombasa, booked via https://www.travler.africa/. It was comfortable and fast, but you’ll need to call the driver to arrange a pickup spot—the restaurant staff at the campsite helped us out with that! Then we took an Uber to Watamu since we had a lot of luggage (we skipped the matatu).
Watamu is nicknamed "Little Italy" because of all the Italian tourists. When we were there (third week of July), it wasn’t peak season yet, so the beaches weren’t cleaned. But we loved the laid-back vibe and how easy it was to get around. We *highly* recommend the marine turtle rescue center—it’s fascinating (especially with kids) and supports a great cause! We were a bit disappointed by the marine park, though—maybe because of the season? There weren’t many fish, and jellyfish kinda ruined the snorkeling. The mangrove tour is also a must-do.
For the trip back to Nairobi, we took the express train from Mombasa. We booked our tickets when we first arrived in Kenya (since payment is only via M-Pesa). The train is reliable and comfortable, and we saw lots of elephants along the way. Just a heads-up: there are *a lot* of security checks, and we almost weren’t allowed to board with our Opinel knife…
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
All in all, we had an amazing trip—so much variety, great encounters, and the magic of safaris!
My trip to South Africa is getting closer (still 2 months to go 😏), and I’m diving back into my itinerary: from Saturday to the following Sunday around Cape Town, then from Sunday to the following Saturday in Kruger.
For Cape Town, the plan was to avoid changing accommodation every day (we’ll do enough of that in the second part) but still see different landscapes.
I know, I’m missing out on a lot, but you’ve got to make choices, and after all this time, I know what I like—and especially what I don’t (or like less) 😉
Here’s the breakdown:
Arrival Saturday at 11 AM: heading to Hermanus (2 nights). The idea is to stroll along the cliff path in the afternoon, and possibly drive to the Klein River Lagoon. Sunday: Stony Point, then depending on time and weather, a hike in Kogelberg Nature Reserve or Fernkloof Nature Reserve (which seems less scenic but has shorter walks).
Monday: drive to Franschhoek (1 night). If everything lines up, a hike in Jonkershoek NR and a visit to a wine estate.
Tuesday: drive to Mountceder Lodge in the Cederberg (2 nights). I’m thinking of visiting the Stadsaal Caves and the elephant paintings, and maybe one of the hikes listed on the lodge’s site or Maltese Cross.
Thursday: heading to Hout Bay for 3 nights. In no particular order: a classic day trip around the peninsula, half a day at Kirstenbosch Gardens, and half a day at Lion’s Head.
Sunday: flight to Johannesburg.
My questions are mostly about (short) hikes:
Has anyone here done hikes in Kogelberg, Fernkloof, or Jonkershoek?
At Mountceder Lodge (Michel, if you’re reading this… 😉), has anyone tried the hikes (guided or not) offered by the lodge?
There’s still half a day to fill when we’re in Hout Bay—any ideas (not necessarily hikes)?
Lastly, regarding safety: the French foreign ministry (always alarmist, but still) recommends hiking in groups. Is it really risky in broad daylight? (I’m not sure a group of two women counts as a "group"…)
Thanks in advance for your answers, ideas, and comments!
Question: we’re doing a 3-week trip in Namibia, including 5 days for Victoria Falls.
I’ve booked one night in Brandberg, and then I have some questions.
I was thinking of spending 2 nights in Palmwag, then heading to Etosha for one night in Okaukuejo and then 2 nights in Halali.
Alternatively, from Brandberg, I could book a night near Galton Gate and then enter Etosha.
I’m not really sure about the distances, especially with a 4x4.
Same for the return trip: Halali to Windhoek seems long. Maybe it’d be smart to break it up on the way back? (We have 2 days to get back if needed.) If so, where?
Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!
At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.
For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!
I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).
Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.
Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.
Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.
For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.
March or May 2027.
Around 15 days in the Western Cape,
then 15 days in the southern KNP.
Arrival either in PE or George.
The pros know I’m somewhat familiar with the area... that I don’t camp... that my accommodations can be simple and remote, self-catering but with basic comforts... that I’m looking for spots that are a bit off the beaten path... in a relaxed mode...
From George:
Late arrival... need some rest... Herolds Bay from George to the N1.
Tsitsikamma is catching my eye (Storms River)... with or without a stop in Knysna.
Question:
What’s the current condition of the pass from Knysna to Uniondale? R339.
And while I’m at it, the condition of the R340.
Tsitsikamma, Knysna, and my questions still apply if arriving in PE.
Is the Swartberg still closed?
Any recommendations for accommodation in Prince Albert?
If I cross the escarpment, I’ll continue via Anysberg NR, Touwsrivier... any thoughts?
From there... Tankwa Karoo or Mount Cedar (or both).
Then heading back down to the coast... the highlands of Hermanus or Kogelberg NR (any opinions on the latter?).
Or,
A more classic route along the coast...
If I arrive (fairly late) in PE... any ideas for accommodation in that little area?
Given that Nyathi Camp is winking at me...
(For context... a while back, I stayed at Riverbend (same Addo sector, private concession)... and I visited the ruins of that abandoned lodge at the time, which has clearly been renovated since... located in a very quiet part of Addo...).
Any feedback from the pros?
Well, that’s about it...
I’m open to any other tips or advice!
I’m reaching out with a question about which park to choose for a 3-day safari in Kenya.
After 20 days in Uganda, I’m meeting up with my dad for a 3-day safari (that works for him). We’ll be meeting in Nairobi and have a full day to travel to a park (preferably the farthest from Nairobi to avoid crowds?) and spend 4 nights there before heading back to the capital for our flight to France.
I’d love to hear your recommendations since I’ve read so many great tips on this forum.
At the end of July, we’re heading to Namibia with a group of five for a three-week road trip and visit to the national parks.
We’ve read conflicting info about buying entry tickets—either online (where?) or at the gate when we arrive?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the agencies you used to plan your trip to Uganda.
There’s the whole issue of gorilla permits, which need to be booked in advance and involve a significant financial commitment. That’s where I’m at with my trip planning. Between checking lutb.go.ug/ and reading online reviews, it’s hard to move forward with confidence.
I contacted the French Embassy, but they don’t provide any recommendations. I almost booked with an agency that had a really bad review from February specifically about the permit process.
How did you go about choosing your agency? Given the large sum involved, I’m this close to booking through a travel agency in France for this part.
From what I understand, no matter which agency books the permit, you’re ultimately guided by professionals trained for gorilla trekking based on the permit itself? I’m assuming that’s how it works.
Thanks for your feedback, and I’m really happy to see the forum’s new energy—it’s been super helpful to me in the past.
We’re heading to Uganda next summer for three weeks with our two kids, who’ll be 7 and 9 years old.
We’ve been to Southern Africa before but not East Africa, and after a trip to South Africa two years ago, the kids wanted to return to Africa, while we wanted to explore a new region while staying independent... Uganda’s been catching our eye for a while, and with Rwandair offering relatively attractive prices, we’re going for it!
We’ll be traveling in a 4x4 (self-drive) with roof tents. I don’t have any 4x4 driving experience, so it’ll be a first for me, but we’ll manage 😉 No great apes for us—kids need to be 15, and we don’t want to do that experience without them.
I don’t usually ask the forum much for trip planning, but this time, I’d love your thoughts and advice!
First question: Karamoja or not? At first glance, if we want to add it to a "classic" loop in the southwest, it doesn’t seem realistic—too packed, too much driving. We could consider doing the full loop via Kidepo and then heading down to Murchison, but I’m worried the trip might feel less varied and less kid-friendly. That said, the region looks stunning, and I’m struggling to accept not going at all... What do you think?
If we skip Karamoja, we’d do a loop: Murchison/Fort Portal/QENP/Bunyonyi/Mburo, which seems pretty comprehensive and would let us take our time, which is nice. A few random questions:
- How much time should we plan for the Fort Portal area? I was thinking at least 3 days to visit Bigodi Swamp, walk around the craters, and maybe do a community walk (any thoughts on that?).
- Between Murchison Falls and the Fort Portal area, is it worth breaking up the drive? I spotted Lake Albert Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Albert—it’s not too expensive and looks nice.
- I’d love to do some easy walks/hikes at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains, ideally without a guide, but it doesn’t seem straightforward. Do you know if it’s possible to do nice walks independently? I’ve read about hikes in the hills near Kilembe but nothing very specific. Maybe staying somewhere at the foot of the mountains, like Ruboni Community Camp, would allow that.
- Lake Mutanda looks really cool, and so does Lake Bunyonyi... Ideally, I’d like to see both, but won’t that feel repetitive? Is Lake Mutanda worth the detour?
Last practical question, since we don’t have experience with this: for the car with kids, would you recommend two tents (a bit more space) or a four-person tent?
I’ll stop here—already a lot of questions...
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and looking forward to exchanging ideas!
Gabriel
We’re planning our second trip to South Africa in July 2026. In 2023, we did a loop from Joburg, Golden Gate, Drakensberg, Hluhluwe, St Lucia, Eswatini, Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, and back to Joburg.
This time, we’d like to go to Cape Town and do a road trip to Port Elizabeth, then fly back to Joburg to return to Kruger. At this stage of my planning, here’s what it could look like:
D1 to D4: Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Boulders, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive). I’ve spotted a few places to stay between Camps Bay and Hout Bay (3 nights).
D5 and D6: Either Karoo NP or Hermanus and De Hoop. Any opinions to tip the scales? I’ll admit I’m already leaning toward Karoo (the "wild" vibe of the landscapes and wildlife encounters appeal to me much more than the seaside, which feels less exotic). If we go for Karoo, where should we stay? Inside the park or in Beaufort West? I’ve seen good reviews for Ko-ka Tsara Bush Camp, but maybe it’s better to stay in the Sanparks cottages to make the most of the park? (2 nights)
Option B is to do Stellenbosch (though vineyards aren’t great in winter) and/or the Whale Route—Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, De Hoop (2 nights near Gansbaai).
D7 and D8: Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn. Staying at De Cango Guest Farm (2 nights).
D9 and D10: Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Tsitsikamma (2 nights in Plettenberg Bay and 1 night in PE).
D11: Flight from Port Elizabeth to Joburg at 7 AM and drive to Marloth Park.
For Kruger, I’ve booked 2 nights in Marloth Park, 1 night in Skukuza, 2 nights in Satara, and 1 night in Talamati, which we loved. I’ll book the last night in Graskop later since we want to revisit the Blyde Canyon area.
I’d love all the feedback you can give on my itinerary, especially for days 5 and 6.
If you have recommendations for accommodations for 4 people, I’d appreciate those too.
Thanks! 🙂
We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland.
Could you share any tips on:
- the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar)
- your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours
- reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan
Hi everyone, I’m here to get some advice on visiting KRUGER Park.
From what I’ve gathered through my reading, I understand there are two ways to visit the park:
- Independently with your own vehicle
=> Do you drive all day?
- By booking with a professional
=> Safari early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But what do you do in between?
When it comes to accommodations, the options are:
- Booking in one of the park’s camps, where the lodging is basic but functional
- Booking in a private reserve, which is more comfortable but prohibitively expensive
- Booking outside the park, which means entering the park every morning. But if you want to stay for 3 days, that doesn’t seem practical to me.
Do you have any advice for accommodations?
To be honest, I’m really struggling to understand how it all works...
Thanks to everyone for your help.
Bidule 27
Hey everyone!
Heading to Namibia in a few days and I just read that the entry fees for all parks in Namibia have skyrocketed. Increases between 86 and 100%, and this has been in effect since April 1st (no joke). Have any of you heard about this, and if so, do you know if it’s actually being enforced?
For example, the fee for Etosha has gone from 150 NAD to 280 NAD per day per person.
Thanks in advance!
I’m really interested in traveling to South Africa in September 2020. My question is whether I should go on an organized tour or plan my own itinerary. Organized trips are pretty expensive $$$$, but the security aspect reassures me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on safety in South Africa and whether it’s easy to arrange activities like visiting vineyards, Cape Town, and going on a safari on our own. Which is better in terms of cost—booking an organized trip or doing it ourselves? It’s definitely less exciting to follow a group for 10 days. We’re a couple in our 50s who love nature.
😊🦁
We’re heading out in April 2027 with our 4x4 to explore part of Southern Africa. Right now we’re researching all these beautiful countries and deciding where to ship our vehicle. We’re from Le Havre—has anyone here already shipped from that port to South Africa or East Africa?
As for all these countries, is wild camping allowed, tolerated, easy, or difficult?
We’ve already visited a few, but you can read just about anything online, so getting tips from real independent travelers is way better :)
We’re all ears for any hacks, experiences, or spots you’d recommend.
See you on the road with Doddy
Hi,
I’m starting to plan a great trip for the last three weeks of January 2027 (my first time in South Africa).
After spending a few hours (!) browsing this forum, here’s a rough first draft of my itinerary:
D0 Arrival at JNB
D1, D2 Blyde River Canyon
D3, D4, D5, D6, D7: Kruger
D8, D9, D10: St Lucia and surrounding area
D11, D12, D13, D14: Drakensberg + Lesotho
D15 A very long driving day to the south (hope the AC doesn’t break down!)
D16, D17, D18, D19 southwest coast (so far I’ve noted Oudtshoorn, Robberg Nature Reserve, Wilderness NP, De Hoop Reserve, and a bit of the wine route)
D20, D21 Cape Town (peninsula and a bit of the city) + domestic flight and return flight (departure from JNB at 11 PM)
A few questions before refining this:
- Do you see any major issues with this itinerary?
- We don’t have a choice on dates, and personally, I prefer green landscapes to desert ones anyway, but do you really see far fewer animals in January than in the dry season? Five days in Kruger should give us enough time to spot plenty of different animals despite the tall grass, right? As for the heat, we’re from Réunion, so we’re relatively used to it, even though I know it’s not the same type of heat.
- Can I trust the distances and driving times given by Google Maps?
- Picking up the vehicle in Johannesburg and dropping it off in Cape Town: how much might that cost us? I’m thinking it probably won’t be worse (in terms of time or money, since there are five of us—2 adults + 3 kids) than going back to Joburg after Lesotho, taking a flight to Cape Town, and renting another vehicle... but maybe I’m wrong.
- Finally, wouldn’t it be better to focus on just one of the two regions (either the northeast or Cape Town and the south coast)? If it were up to me, I’d stick to the first part and extend a few stops... but not everyone agrees! And we’re thinking that since it’ll be really hot, a second part of the trip that’s a bit """cooler""" would be welcome.
I imagine many of you have been captivated by the Masai Mara park and/or your safari experience with Tony Crocetta/Melting Pot Safari. Still, I’d like to share my perspective.
First, I’m an avid traveler, especially in love with Africa, which my partner and I have explored a bit (Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia...).
That said, I want to express my deep disappointment with both the Masai Mara and Tony Crocetta’s camp, Melting Pot Safari, where we stayed last year.
First, about the park: it’s stunning, no doubt. But what a highly touristy place! I can’t find the words to describe the horror of being among 30 4x4 vehicles lined up in front of a lioness hunt, let alone encircling her right after her kill while her prey is still alive in her jaws... no respect for wildlife. The same goes for surrounding a young leopard playing with its small prey, a moment when I counted over 50 vehicles, most with their engines running... sickening. I turned away, both my gaze and my camera. What a disaster to see this natural wonder of Africa turned into a tourist hotspot.
Yes, I loved this place on Earth, but no, I won’t "promote" it anywhere or to anyone.
Next, I also wanted to share my dissatisfaction with Tony Crocetta’s famous camp, Melting Pot Safari: where to begin? We booked a private vehicle for four with two friends, and I have no complaints about the vehicle itself (though it obviously came at a cost). The windows and the vehicle weren’t very photo-friendly, but let’s move on.
The trip between the sisters’ guesthouse (which was fine) and the camp went smoothly, except we arrived a bit too late. Result: "We’ll leave for the safari an hour later today because the driver has to respect his rest hours." Perfect—with park formalities, we only spent about an hour in the park that evening. The safari got off to a great start...
During our 12-day stay, we saw some amazing things. Tony wasn’t at the camp—I don’t know what the atmosphere is like when he’s there, but it was rather cold during our trip. Sylvie, his wife, barely looked at us, never asking how our day, night, or game drive went (I think she spoke to us once during the stay, plus the day we arrived, of course). We felt invisible... (if I were mean, I’d say the money had already been deposited into Melting Pot’s bank account.)
The evening meals, if I may say so, were a joke: not enough dessert (aside from fruit, but the few elaborate desserts—like 10 for 18 guests) for everyone, barely enough meat or sides. If you were unlucky like us and ended up with a group of 15 people who decided to skip the starter, you’d better hurry to get your main course, or there might not be any left—and no refills... We always ate our fill, but sometimes we had to serve ourselves in advance.
Finally, I want to correct something about the quality of the meals: seriously, this buffet was really mediocre and far from the culinary standards I’d read about in my pre-trip research (see their Facebook page).
Anyway, let’s move past the food—after all, the avocados were sublime, and we’re not there primarily to eat.
About the tent: the river views were beautiful, and the beds were very comfortable. No running water, individual showers outside the tent, and dry toilets—but it’s Africa, so we weren’t shocked. However, I’m disappointed that for this "modest" price, I wasn’t warned there’d be no soap (and no, I don’t travel with my own soap—and for the price, a little bar in the tent wouldn’t be a luxury). But let’s move on—the hippo views were fantastic. Oh, and to preserve the Masai Mara’s water (which makes sense) and for hygiene reasons, underwear isn’t washed by the camp staff—fair enough. But then what’s that little sign next to the bed? Oh right, for a hefty sum, underwear suddenly becomes "washable"...
Finally, my biggest gripe is about the essential part: the game drives. In France, they sell you a dream with a "photo safari" (what’s the difference, really? A room with a few more electrical outlets?). They promise guides especially suited for photography (not a given, sorry) and vehicles that can get close to animals and go off-road... but here’s the catch: the guides are bound by park laws and hounded by rangers looking to fine rule-breakers. Result: as soon as a white ranger vehicle is spotted, we have to abandon our spot for a wild chase through the grass. Fun once... The next day, we learned that another group’s guide got caught and had to pay $100 for breaking the rules—a sum he casually asked the travelers in his vehicle to cover... because of course, Melting Pot lures tourists with dreams, the poor rangers try to get close, all while breaking park laws... and they break those laws for Crocetta’s company, which, of course, won’t dip into its profits to pay the fines. Basically, it’s "keep the clients happy, but don’t get fined—or the fines are on you or you’ll have to ask the clients directly." Nice boss! Anyway, there were long discussions about this last year, especially among the guests in the fined vehicle. My partner and I found these practices unacceptable, and we were deeply disappointed by this attitude.
I know many people adore this park and/or this company—maybe you were luckier... or maybe you’re less demanding than we are when it comes to respecting rules, nature, and clients. But after traveling through much of southern Africa, I can tell you we personally came back frustrated from this experience and aren’t eager to return... You’ve been warned.
Here’s my feedback after a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, months of prep exchanges (over eight months!), and phone calls right up to departure day, the guide didn’t honor the commitments we’d agreed on.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com—who we’d organized everything with—didn’t meet us as promised when we arrived in Addis Ababa. Without any warning, he sent a different guide to accompany us for the entire trip (with a flimsy excuse).
Several parts of the signed quote weren’t respected:
– Services included in the quote but not provided on-site (meals, water),
– Hotels we’d chosen, booked, and paid for were swapped for lower-category places,
– Visits were canceled because the timing wasn’t calculated properly,
– One stop on the itinerary was dropped without any reason or explanation.
We’d paid a deposit for domestic flights, with a promise to refund any overpayment. A month after returning, 150 € per person (there were three of us) still hasn’t been refunded.
I’m sharing this to warn fellow travelers about the importance of solid guarantees to ensure contracts are actually honored. Double-check everything before committing!
Wishing everyone safe and smooth travel prep—Ethiopia is an incredible country!
---
Hello,
Feedback following a recent trip to Ethiopia, organized with a local guide.
Despite a signed quote, numerous preparatory exchanges over eight months, and phone calls right up until the day of departure, the guide did not fulfill his commitments.
Haile Haftu FANUAILE, manager of the agency www.charmethiopiantours.com with whom we had organized everything, did not meet us as agreed upon our arrival in Addis Ababa; without warning us, he sent another guide in his place to accompany us throughout the trip (with a bogus excuse).
Several points in the signed quote were not honored:
– services included in the quote but not provided on site (meals, water),
– hotels chosen, booked, and paid for, replaced by lower-category establishments,
– visits canceled due to lack of time, which had not been calculated correctly,
– one stop on the itinerary canceled without reason or explanation.
A deposit had been paid for the booking of domestic flights, with a commitment to refund the overpayment.
To date, one month after our return, 150 € per person (there were three of us) has still not been refunded.
This testimony is intended to alert travelers to the importance of solid guarantees for contracts that are actually honored, so that everyone can be extra vigilant before committing.
Good luck with your travel preparations, everyone.
Ethiopia is an extraordinary country!
Hello,
With so many agencies out there, we're feeling a bit lost. Could you please share your experience—like recommending your agency if you were happy with them—and tell us why, and if possible, what budget we should expect? Feel free to send it in a private message :)
We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.
Hi there,
I’ve reached out to a few agencies for a week-long family safari next summer before heading to Zanzibar.
So far, the itinerary looks like this:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 3: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 4: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 5: Drive to Serengeti and safari in Seronera
Day 6: Serengeti and overnight near Lobo
Day 7: Serengeti and overnight in Seronera
Day 8: Flight from Seronera to Zanzibar
On paper, it covers "everything," but maybe there’s a bit too much time lost on the road... Any alternatives?
To simplify (and cut costs), I was thinking:
Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha
Day 2: Arusha National Park with a walking safari and meeting the Maasai (?)
Day 3: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire
Day 4: Full day in Tarangire
Day 5: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu
Day 6: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 7: Morning in Manyara or Natron and drive to JRO
Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar
Your thoughts and recommendations are welcome...
Thanks
We have the opportunity to spend about ten days somewhere for Christmas, and I’m really tempted by Zanzibar. I’ve been dreaming for a long time about the Spice Island, Stone Town, diving...
Which hotels could you recommend? Not a big "resort"—we’re more into "boutique hotels" or even an Airbnb house. Somewhere quiet (we’re not party animals).
I’m thinking of staying the first few nights in Stone Town and then moving to a beach, preferably one where we can swim regardless of the tides, without ending up in seaweed and mud at low tide.
I’m a bit lost with all the beaches because apparently, the north is very crowded, the south is very windy, and the east has some good and some not-so-good spots, with big tides or not... HELP! 🤪
I’d like to limit myself to a maximum of 2 different places to stay over the 10 days.
I’m reaching out because I don’t understand how Volcanoes National Park works.
I looked at booking for the gorillas, but there’s just the price listed, and the same goes for the Diane Fossey tomb.
So I contacted a hotel in Kinigi, and they told me that for the gorillas, you need a car to get to the park headquarters, and then once you know your group, you need to get from the headquarters to the trekking start point?? Do you confirm this? Is that really how it works? They say the hotel has a driver and it would cost 100 DOLLARS!!
I just found out that on top of the permit, there are other fees??? Uhh…
Are there other options, knowing I don’t want to rent a 4x4 since I’m traveling alone?
And if I don’t get the gorilla permit but just want to visit the Diane Fossey tomb, is it the same issue? From Kinigi, do you need a 4x4? How far is the tomb from the headquarters? Is it a hike you can do alone OR DO YOU NEED A GUIDE, ON FOOT? By car??
If someone could explain everything to me… and is the DF Foundation different??
If I decide to go through an agency, is it possible in Musanze (which would save me trips) or is it mandatory to go through Kigali?
Thanks so much for your help…
Best regards
I’m in the middle of planning a road trip in Southern Africa, and I’m specifically working on the itinerary—especially the distances.
I’ve got the time, but I’m struggling with the transfer days (so much driving just to end up spending the whole day on the road). That’s why I’m trying to analyze travel times, even if it means adding extra stops.
My highlights in Zimbabwe would be:
- Hwange
- Victoria Falls (and maybe Matusadona)
- Mana Pools
- Harare
- Gonarezhou
- Great Zimbabwe
But the distances and travel times seem huge (over 4 hours each time), and I don’t see how to make the drives more chill or shorten them—even if it means adding stops (but which ones?) between each leg.
Would anyone be able to estimate the travel time between these highlights and maybe suggest some nice stops to take breaks?
